George Russell Promises More Performance From Mercedes W14 In Future Races
After a less-than-stellar performance at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, Mercedes surprised everyone with a remarkable turnaround at the Saudi Arabian weekend. Both George Russell and Lewis Hamilton felt slightly more optimistic following Sunday's race, with Russell stating that the W14 "was feeling good"—a far cry from their struggles in Bahrain.
Turning the Tide at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit
Many had predicted that Mercedes would continue to lag behind at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, but Russell defied expectations, securing P3 on the grid for the second race of 2023. The former Williams driver consistently outperformed his teammate, Hamilton, showcasing the renewed potential of the W14.
Russell's Strong Performance Highlights Mercedes' Comeback
Throughout the weekend in Jeddah, Russell demonstrated a commanding presence on the track. He managed to outpace Hamilton by several tenths during qualifying, who ended his Saturday with a P7 spot on the grid.
During the race, Russell maintained his strong performance, even keeping Hamilton at bay despite running on the hard Pirelli (although this may have been a team order). The revitalised Mercedes team proved competitive against Aston Martin, with both teams emerging as the second and third fastest in Saudi Arabia.
Surpassing Ferrari
Mercedes' newfound consistency allowed them to surpass Ferrari in race pace. Russell was therefore happy with making the most of "the potential of the car," but has admitted that there's “more performance in the locker”.
This will be exciting for Mercedes fans who are already awaiting upgrades from the Brackley team around Baku.
“We had a really strong qualifying which was really enjoyable. I’d be really pleased to come home in P4 on the road because I felt like that was the maximum that was possible.
“I was having fun up there, the car was feeling good. We know we’ve got some more performance in the locker, in some races to come.”
With the W14 already surpassing Russell's expectations, this could spell good news for the Brit who is enjoying another successful start to the year. But with Lewis Hamilton still unsure, it's likely that the duo's relationship could come under strain.